Our Easter Miracle; An Update On My Dad

So this post is a little bit late but we were blessed with an Easter miracle.

My dad was released from the long term acute care facility two days before Easter and allowed to go home!

As most of you know the doctors told us he would be there at least 4-6 weeks after his long and terrifying stay in the ICU and that he would probably require additional hospitalization as well. He amazed the doctors with his sudden turn around, amazed the respiratory therapists, and left the physical therapists in amazement. With that being said his recovery will still be long and it’s definitely an uphill battle BUT he’s beaten the cruddy odds he was given and he’s going to LIVE! Saying that leaves me so overwhelmed with happy emotions that I’m left with happy tears. It’s just such a relief to know that he’s going to make it and that we don’t have to watch him suffer so badly anymore.

It pains me to say it but I was really mad at God (and the entire universe to put it lightly) when my dad started to get worse after being hospitalized with pneumonia. I didn’t understand what God’s plan was in all of this. To be honest I still really don’t.. I mean, my dad was suffering so badly, struggling to live while being poked and prodded by so many specialists it was ridiculous. He was scared and said his goodbyes to us and we left that hospital ICU with heavy hearts after he was intubated. But in everything, even in all of the pain, I felt like God was still there… still holding us.. and still watching over my dad. I just prayed that God would let his suffering end quickly whatever road that might be and that if he lived through it that He would help him heal quickly.. and God did just that. That in itself leaves me in awe because according to the doctors they didn’t expect him to live. I’m also left in awe over the amazing support you have all provided for my family during this time. The amount of people that have prayed for my dad and for my family has really left us humbled. Saying thank you just doesn’t feel like enough. Your love for us has helped restore my faith and for that I wish I could give you all a huge bear hug!

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (NIV) Ecclesiastes 4:12

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (King James Bible) Matthew 18:20

My dad is currently resting and recovering in his own bed, eating on his own, and is extremely happy to not have nurses poking and prodding him every 5 minutes. He was lonely so I think being home is great for his morale. He still has a central line in “just in case” and he also has the feeding tube in still which will be removed within the next few weeks. He’s still in a lot of pain though and coughing like crazy as expected when recovering from ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) which in my dad’s case was caused by his severe pneumonia. The doctor isn’t quite sure yet of when my dad will be back to somewhat normal health or when he’ll be able to return to work but they do expect him to eventually. It’s still just a waiting game but so far so good. His lungs just need a lot of time to heal and that’s a slow process and leaves him feeling tired and sore and not able to talk much without coughing. He still has quite a ways to go but there’s a light at the end of this tunnel now.

Related posts:

1. Update On My Dad; A Horribly Slow & Painful Recovery
2. An Update & An Unload